Salmonella poisoning in babies and children: symptoms and treatment

Salmonella are bacteria and belong to the group of enterobacteria. There are now over 2200 different bacteria known, but only about 120 species can be dangerous for your child. In most cases, your child is affected by salmonella enteritis, which is usually harmless and causes infectious diarrhea.

Causes of salmonella poisoning

Babies and young children are much more likely to contract Salmonella than adults. This is because your child still has very little stomach acid that could kill the bacteria. Transmission occurs in different ways, but rarely from person to person. Contamination through contaminated food such as poultry, eggs or raw milk is much more likely.

Symptoms of  salmonella poisoning

After an incubation period, i.e. from the time of infection to the onset of the disease, of around 12-48 hours, your child may show the following symptoms. Stomach pain and strong, often foul-smelling diarrhea are particularly typical. This is mostly watery, but in most cases it subsides after 4-5 days. Other symptoms of salmonella infection include fever and sometimes chills or vomiting. Babies and toddlers are also at risk of dehydration if they have severe diarrhea. You can easily recognize dehydration if your child has a dry, coated tongue, sunken eyes, a flat voice, low blood pressure or calf cramps.

Salmonella poisoning:  treatment and course

Proper treatment is required for the symptoms to subside after a maximum of seven days. Antibiotics are not usually given for salmonella poisoning, as your child could become resistant to them and relapse. In very rare cases, an antibiotic is prescribed for infants. In most cases, however, an electrolyte solution from the doctor is sufficient to compensate for the loss of fluid. Your child can easily drink the solution dissolved in some water. You can also keep your child’s fluid balance stable at home with tea or water with a pinch of salt and a teaspoon of dextrose.

However, if your child’s diarrhea or vomiting is too severe, please see a doctor immediately. The severe loss of fluids can be life-threatening for your child.

Prevent  salmonella  poisoning

With a few simple measures, you can almost rule out salmonella poisoning. You should always ensure good hygienic conditions at home. When shopping, you should pay attention to uninterrupted cold chains and the expiry date. Eating perishable foods quickly is also a good tip, as is that you should always heat poultry, eggs and egg products sufficiently. Salmonella are only killed off at a temperature of over 70°C and a cooking time of at least 10 minutes.